It was midnight when Martine and her family were awakened by an urgent-sounding knock on the door. Standing in the entry to their mountain home in Boulder Creek, California, was the sheriff, and the news wasn’t good. The CZU Lightning Complex wildfire, which could be seen from Martine’s deck that night in August of 2020, was getting close – too close. The family had fifteen minutes to round up their things and evacuate.

“My first thought was to gather the kids and make sure they had everything they needed, as well as any important papers,” says Martine. Minutes later, the four family members were in the car, leaving their house to an unknown fate.

Fortunately, Martine has a friend in San Jose she “can call on anytime.” She, her husband, and their two daughters stayed there until it was safe to go home. Though they were able to return to Boulder Creek after two and a half weeks, it was a month before the fires were fully contained. More than 7,500 buildings in the region were destroyed and one person died.

Though the fire didn’t damage their residence (beyond leaving a layer of dust and ash), when the family returned it was to a home without power or drinkable water. A generator was purchased to supply electricity to her NxStage dialysis cycler until power was restored, but their tap water – which Martine typically uses to make dialysate via her PureFlow SL Water and Dialysate Preparation System – was contaminated.

Fortunately, Martine uses a NxStage System One, the only home hemodialysis machine cleared in the US that can use pre-mixed bagged dialysate – ideal for her situation.

Looking back, Martine knows she made the most of a bad situation. And after she returned home, the generator, System One cycler, and bagged dialysate all enabled her to continue therapy uninterrupted. But she also admits there are some things she will do differently going forward.

Given her rural location, Martine is now keeping a one-month supply of pre-mixed dialysate bags on hand. She says she is also better prepared to take her NxStage System One with her, should disaster strike again. NxStage systems are the only home hemodialysis machines that can travel with you in an emergency or natural disaster.

“I have a to-go kit ready, and I moved the (dialysate) bags up to a more accessible area at the house,” she says. “I’m prepared now.”

Beyond the usual supplies required for HHD, one piece of equipment Martine advises HHD patients to keep in their to-go kit is a power strip, since outlets at hotels (and even private residences) can be difficult to access.

In 2020, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), wildfires, drought, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and other weather events caused more than $95 billion in damages throughout the U.S.¹ Beyond the financial costs, natural disasters and other emergency events (power outages, water main breaks, etc.) cause injuries, deaths, displacement of people from their homes, and medical issues, including limiting/preventing access to dialysis care and therapy.

Bunny Talton, a certified nephrology nurse from Dallas and panelist for Always Ready: Emergency Planning for the Unexpected, advises her home dialysis patients to have a plan and the supplies to get them through these types of situations.

“In our area we require patients to have a supply of bagged dialysate on hand for any type of equipment failures or any emergencies that might arise,” she says. “We also give our patients a travel and emergency supply list that they should have easy access to.”

Emergency readiness is part of her team’s HHD training protocol, says Bunny, and about every six months she or one of her fellow nurses reaches out to make sure patients are staying prepared.

“We encourage them to check their stock levels and the expiration dates (for supplies),” Bunny says. “And the big part of our education that patients need to know and understand is their water source, so if there is an issue or a notice sent out that they know they can call the utility company or their clinic for more information.”

Another resource home dialysis patients can turn to for preparedness is Are You Ready?, NxStage’s guidebook for unexpected emergencies, created specifically for HHD patients.  This straightforward, printable document outlines all of the steps and information HHD patients need to know if/when a natural disaster or emergency situation occurs. It includes checklists and forms for emergency contact information, evacuation plans, medical and identification documents, emergency reserves and supplies, and more.